Trail Blazers at Mavericks
THE STORY: Third-seeded Dallas will be out to prove it is not a playoff marshmallow when it opens the playoffs at home Saturday against No. 6 seed Portland. The Mavericks have been bumped in the first round in three of the last four years. The teams split four games this season, all decided by eight points or fewer.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (48-34): The Trail Blazers overcame much trouble early in the season, including losing Greg Oden (left knee) for the season in December and Brandon Roy and Marcus Camby for extended periods because of knee injuries. Portland has won eight of its last 12 games and has an intangible in Gerald Wallace. He is the only Trail Blazer to face Dallas in the playoffs and has averaged 19.1 points, shooting 53.6 percent, in his last 13 games. “I think we have a great chance against them,” Wallace said. “They're a good team, but we proved the last two times we played that we can beat them.”
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (57-25): Much has been made of Dallas’ early playoff exits in recent years, but this is a team that started 43-9. Dallas finished with the same record as the Los Angeles Lakers but settled for the third seed. “In the Western Conference, any year, if you want to compete at the highest level you’ve got to embrace pressure,” coach Rick Carlisle told Dallas area reporters. “You’ve got to make pressure your friend. It’s the essence of competition; it’s the essence of what this is all about. It’s what energizes everybody.” Dirk Nowitzki remains a threat to carry the Mavericks deep into the playoffs and there is a remote possibility forward Caron Butler (right knee) could return at the end of this series.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 27.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in four games against the Mavericks. Dallas’ Roddy Beaubois has scored just 39 points in seven April games, lost his spot as starting shooting guard and sprained his left foot in the regular-season finale Wednesday.
KEY STATISTIC: Portland set a franchise mark by shooting 80.4 percent from the free-throw line this season.
SEASON SERIES: The teams split four regular-season meetings, but the Trail Blazers won the last two games, both at the Rose Garden.
LAST WORD: “We don’t fear Dallas. We respect them. We believe we can win.” – Nate McMillan on playing the Mavericks.